Crutch with retractable ice gripper

ABSTRACT

A crutch having a retractable ice gripper operable by the user as he normally uses the crutch while being supported by the crutch. The ice gripper is fixed on the end on an adjustable longitudinal support which is biased downwardly with respect to the crutch with an adjustable biasing means. A latch controls the disposition of the ice gripper with respect to the bottom of the crutch.

0 United States Patent [151 3,646,949

Streeter 1 Mar. 7, 1972 [54] CRUTCH WITH RETRACTABLE ICE 1,304,9785/1919 Herrold ..135/58 X GRIPPER 2,371,246 3/1945 McGrory et al..135/59 X 2,501,890 3/1950 Desso et a1 .135/58 X [72] inventor: MauriceW. Streeter, 268 E. Muskegon 2 793 47 5/1957 Urie ct 135 50 Street,Cedar p s Mlch- 49319 3,512,541 5/1970 Goggins ..135/58 [22] May 1970Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell [21] Appl. No.: 39,718 Attorney.lohn E.MeGarry V 57 ABSTRACT [52] U.S.Cl ..l35/58 1 51 A crutch having aretractable ice gripper operable by the user 58 Field ofSem-ch ..135 50,58, 59, 53 as he normally uses the crutch while being supported y thecrutch. The ice gripper is fixed on the end on an adjustable [56]References Cited longitudinal support which is biased downwardly withrespect to the crutch with an adjustable biasing means. A latch con-UNITED STATES PATENTS trols the disposition of the ice gripper withrespect to the bottom of the crutch. 404,303 5/1889 ReMillard ..135/59 X970,497 9/1910 Harding ..135/58 X 12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 76 64 7822 6 5s 5O 48 34 l x I I w FT in [N lJL 4o 46 PAIENIEMR 1 m2 v 0 m a o oo 5 o o 0 o o INVENTOR CRUTCH WITH RETRACTABLE ICE GRIPPER Thisinvention relates to a crutch with a retractable ice gripper. In one ofits aspects, the invention relates to a retractable ice gripper on anadjustable crutch wherein the ice gripper has a support which isadjustable with respect to the crutch to facilitate operation of the icegripper when the crutch is adjusted for users of different heights.

In another of its aspects the invention relates to a crutch with aretractable ice gripper wherein the ice gripper has an adjustablebiasing means to resiliently force the ice gripper into contact with icysurfaces.

Due to an increase in the skiing activity in northern areas of theUnited States, leg fractures in the winter time have increased in recentyears. In addition to skiing accidents, many other types of accidentsoccur in the winter and require the use of crutches by accident victims.During the winter months, ice on sidewalks and streets creates a veryserious hazard for persons dependent on crutches. The crutchesheretofore available have no practical provision for use on icysurfaces, thereby forcing persons who are dependent on crutches toremain indoors during inclement weather.

It has been proposed to attach an ice-gripping element to the bottom ofa crutch in lieu of the conventional rubber cap. This would besatisfactory for icy surfaces but would have to be removed when enteringa house. The user must relinquish support of the crutch while changingthe ice-gripping element thereby subjecting the user to a hazard.

Various other devices have been proposed to solve the problem of the useof crutches on icy surfaces. Some of these solutions have requiredrestructuring of the conventional crutches or construction of a new anddifferent crutch in order to accommodate the ice-gripping element. Othersolutions have been impractical in that they were not adapted fordifferent adjustable positions of an adjustable crutch. Still othersolutions were impractical because the gripping elements were maintainedrigidly in contact with icy surfaces.

By various aspects of this invention one or more of the following, orother, objects can be obtained.

It is an object of this invention to provide a crutch with a retractableice gripper which can be easily actuated while supporting the user forgripping or nongripping positions.

It is further object of this invention to provide a retractable icegripper which is easily incorporated into a conventional crutch design.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an adjustablecrutch having a retractable ice gripper with an actuating handle whichis adjustable to maintain the same relationship between the handle andthe crutch handle to facilitate actuation of the ice gripper intooperating positions while the crutch is being used.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a crutch having aretractable ice gripper which is resiliently biased into contact withthe icy surfaces and the biasing means is itself adjustable tocompensate for persons of different weight.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a combination of aconventional crutch with an ice-gripping element. The conventionalcrutch includes an armrest, longitudinal support members including alower support member having an end for contacting a supporting surfaceand an upper support member supporting the armrest, there being meansfor securing the upper and lower support members together. The inventiveretractable ice-gripping means according to the invention comprises alongitudinal support means, and an ice-gripping plate at one end of thelongitudinal support means. The ice-gripping plate has at one end aplurality of pointed members for engaging and gripping icy surfaces andat least partially encircles the bottom end of the lower support. Thelongitudinal support means are slidably retained on the longitudinalsupport members for longitudinal recipro' cation with respect theretobetween upper and lower positions. In the lower position, the pointedmembers extend below the lower support member end. In the upperposition, the pointed members extend to a point above the lower supportend. Means are provided to bias the ice gripper means downwardly withrespect to the support members.

Still further according to the invention, a latch means is provided toretain the ice gripper support means in the upper position, and to limitthe downward movement, of the support means to the lower position.

Still further according to the invention, the biasing means isadjustable to regulate the force by which the ice-gripping meanscontacts the icy surfaces.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a crutch with an ice gripper attached theretoin a retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a slightly enlarged cross sectional view taken along linesII--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the ice gripper means in theextended position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along lines IVIVofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a lateral cross-sectional view of a modified form of the icegripper supporting elements of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial front view of a second modification of theinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a view taken along lines VII-VII of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings and to FIGS. 1-4 in particular, there isshown an adjustable crutch 12 having an armrest 14 joined to the upperend of side supports 16 and 18. A handle 20 is affixed between the sidesupports 16 and 18 by a screw 22 and a wingnut 24. Each of the sidesupports 16 and 18 have a plurality of holes 26 for adjusting theposition of the handle grip'20 on the side supports.

A central support member 28 is affixed between bottom portions of theside supports 16 and 18 through screws 32 and 34 which extend throughholes in the central support member 28. Wingnuts 36 and 38 are securedto the ends of the screws 32 and 34 respectively. A rubber end cap 40 isaffixed to the bottom end of the central support member 28.

The foregoing has been a description of a conventional ad- 40 justablecrutch design that is in wide use throughout the United States. Theheight of this crutch is adjusted by changing the relative position ofthe central support member 28 with respect to the side supports 16 and18. This is accomplished by removing the screws 32 and 34, changing therelative position of the central support member 28 with respect to theside support members 16 and 18 and reinserting the screws and theWingnuts. At the same. time, the position of the handle grips 20 on theside supports 16 and 18 can be changed.

According to the invention, a novel and inventive ice gripperconstruction is easily and quickly fixed to the conventional crutchdesign without restructuring the design or modifying the basic crutchstructure. The ice gripper has a top bar 44 and a bottom bar 46 inoverlapping relationship these bars 44 and 46 are rigidly maintained infixed relationship by a hole in the bottom bar 46 and an indentation82in the top bar 44 (FIG. 4). A gripper member 48 having jagged bottomedges 50 is fixed to the lower end of the bottom bar 46 throughconventional fastening means 50.

The bars 44 and 46 are slidably retained on the central support member28 by L-shaped brackets 52, 54 and 56. Bracket 52 has a leg extendingbetween the central support member 28 and the side support member 18 andis securely held in that position by screw 34. The L-shaped bracket 54has a leg extending between the central support member 28 and the sidesupport 16. This bracket 54 is securely held on the central supportmember 28 by a screw 32. Bracket 56 is secured by a fastening member 58.

The upper portion of the top bar 44 is bent inwardly forming a handle 60beneath the handle grip 20.

A latch member 62 is secured to the top bar 44 through a conventionalfastening means 64. The latch member 62 contains a lateral extension 66at right angles to the top bar 44. A downwardly extending catch flange68 extends at an acute angle from the top bar 44 engaging a U-shapedlatch bar 76.

- port member 28 of the crutch.

Fastening member 78 securely holds the latch bar 76 between the sidesupports 16 and 18.

A tension spring 70 is secured at one end to the lateral extension 66 ofthe latch member 62 and at the other end to a chain 72. One end of thechain 72 engages a hook 74 which in turn is secured'to the centralsupport member 28. The chain can be removed from the hook 74 andattached at different portions of the chain to adjust the tension in thespring 70. In

the alternative, the connection between the chain 72 and the spring 70can be changed in order to adjust the tension in spring 70. The spring70 functions to resiliently bias'the icegripping means-downwardly withrespect to the central sup- In operation, the crutch would normally beused with the ice gripping element in the position illustrated in'FIG.2. When an icy surface was encountered, the user of the crutch wouldgrasp the handle 60 with his hand, lift it slightly to disengage thecatch flange 68 from engagement with the latch bar 76, and then pull thetop 84 44 outwardly slightly in order to clear the latch bar 76. Thehandle is thenle't down until the jagged edges 60 contact the icysurface. The jagged edges 50 are maintained resiliently in contact withthe icy surfaces by the spring 70.- The ice-gripping element isretracted by grasping handle 60 and lifting the same upwardly until thecatch flange 68 engages the latch bar 76.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5 which shows a modified means in whichthe ice gripper supporting bars can be secured together. This figurerepresents a lateral cross section through two longitudinal, overlappingbars. In this modified form of the invention an arcuate top bar 84 has aplurality of openings or holes 88, only one of which is shown in FIG. 5.A bottom bar 86 is also arcuate in shape and concave downwardlyproviding a space between the central portion of the bar 86 and thecentral support member 28. A screw 90 threadably engages the arcuatebottom bar 86 and extends upwardly into the hole 88 in the arcuate topbar 84. The head of the screw 90 is positioned within the recessedformed by the concave bar 86. Although not specifically illustrated inFIG. 5, the bars 84 and 86 are arcuate shaped in lateral cross sectionthroughout the entire length thereof.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 6 and 7 which show a still furthermodification of the invention. In these figures, like numbers have beenused to designate like parts. In this modification, a U-shapedlatch bar92 has holes 94 in the upper portions thereof. The handle grip extendsthrough the holes 94, thereby supporting the latch bar 92. v

The function of the latching mechanism is identical with that describedabove with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4. However, in thismodification, the latch bar 92 is automatically transferred to differentpositions when the handle grip 20 is adjusted to different positions.Thus, with the modification of FIGS. '6 and 7, there is no necessity ofmaking a separate adjustment for the latch bar when moving the handlegrip 20.

As shown in FIG. 6, the fastening member 64 extends through one of aplurality of holes 96 in the top bar 44 and secures the later member 62to the bar 44. Each of the holes 96 is spaced about one-fourth inchapart. The latch member 62 can be attached to the bar 44 through any ofthe holes 96. In this manner, the extent to which the jagged edges willextend below the end of the end cup 40 can be adjusted.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that there has been devised animproved ice gripping construction to be attached to a conventionalcrutch without making modifications thereto. The gripper elements areadjustablefor different adjustments of the crutch length to maintain therelationship between the handle grip on the crutch and the handle forthe ice gripper actuator.

The spring bias for the ice gripper provides a resilient engaging forceof the ice gripper on an icy surface. The spring bias is adjustable forthe requirements of different people.

The handle arrangement on the ice gripper support permits easy actuationof the gripper assembly into gripping and nongripping position whilethecrutch itself is being employed as a support. Thus the ice gripperelement can be easily operated while the crutch is in its conventionaluse.

Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope ofthe foregoing disclosure, the drawings, and the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. 7

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows: I

1. In combination with an adjustable crutch having an arm rest,longitudinal support members including a lower support member having anend for contacting a supporting surface and an upper support member,means for securing said upper and lower support members together; 7 ,l

a retractable ice-gripping means comprising: a longitudinal A supportmeans, an ice-gripping plate at one end of said longitudinal supportmeans, said ice-gripping plate including at one end a plurality ofpointed members for engaging and gripping icy surfaces; I

means slidably retaining said ice-grippingmeans on one of saidlongitudinal support members for longitudinal reciprocation with respectthereto between upper and lower positions, said pointed membersextending below said lower support member end in said lower position,and said pointed members extending to a point above said lower supportend when in said upper position; and

means biasing said ice gripper means downwardly with respect to saidsupport members.

2. The combination of claim 1 'wherein said means for securing saidupper and lower members engage said retaining means for said grippingmeans.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal support meanscomprises first and second bars in overlapping relationship to eachother, and means for adjustably securing said bars together so that thelength of said longitudinal support means can be adjusted for differentlengths of said adjustable crutch.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said securing means comprises aplurality of holes in one of said bars and at least one indentation inthe other of said bars in registry with said holes in said one bar.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein each of said bars is arcuate inlongitudinal cross section, both of said bars being concave downwardlywith respect to said support members, the upper of said bars having aplurality of apertures, and said securing means including, a fastenermember have a head between said support member and the lower bar, and aportion of said fastener member extending through said lower bar andinto an aperture in said upper bar. I

6. The combination of claim 1 further comprising .latch means forretaining said gripping means in said upper position.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said latch further includes meansfor limiting the downward movement of said ice gripping means withrespect to said support members at said lower position.

8. The combination of claim I further comprising means to adjust thebias on said biasing means.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said adjustable crutch includes ahandle and said latch means includes a U- shaped bar having legsengaging said handle.

10. In combination with a crutch, a retractable ice gripper comprising:a longitudinal support means; means slidably retaining said supportmeans on said crutch for reciprocatory movement along the length of saidcrutch; ice-gripping edges at a bottom end of said support means adaptedto move above and below the bottom end of said crutch; means to biassaid support means downwardly with respect to said crutch; and latchmeans to retain said support means in a position wherein saidice-gripping edges are above the bottom end of said crutch, and to stopthe downward movement of said support means at a position where saidice-gripping edges are a spaced distance below the bottom end of saidcrutch.

11. The combination of claim 10 further comprising means to adjust saidbiasing means so that said ice gripper is adjustable for persons ofdifferent weight.

below the bottom end of said crutch; means to bias said support meansdownwardly with respect to said crutch; and means to adjust said biasingmeans so that said ice gripper is adjustable for persons of differentweight.

* I! k t

1. In combination with an adjustable crutch having an arm rest,longitudinal support members including a lower support member having anend for contacting a supporting surface and an upper support member,means for securing said upper and lower support members together; aretractable ice-gripping means comprising: a longitudinal support means,an ice-gripping plate at one end of said longitudinal support means,said ice-gripping plate including at one end a plurality of pointedmembers for engaging and gripping icy surfaces; means slidably retainingsaid ice-gripping means on one of said longitudinal support members forlongitudinal reciprocation with respect thereto between upper and lowerpositions, said pointed members extending below said lower supportmember end in said lower position, and said pointed members extending toa point above said lower support end when in said upper position; andmeans biasing said ice gripper means downwardly with respect to saidsupport members.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means forsecuring said upper and lower members engage said retaining means forsaid gripping means.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidlongitudinal support means comprises first and second bars inoverlapping relationship to each other, and means for adjustablysecuring said bars together so that the length of said longitudinalsupport means can be adjusted for different lengths of said adjustablecrutch.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said securing meanscomprises a plurality of holes in one of said bars and at least oneindentation in the other of said bars in registry with said holes insaid one bar.
 5. The combination of claim 3 wherein each of said bars isarcuate in longitudinal cross section, both of said bars being concavedownwardly with respect to said support members, the upper of said barshaving a plurality of apertures, and said securing means including afastener member have a head between said support member and the lowerbar, and a portion of said fastener member extending through said lowerbar and into an aperture in said upper bar.
 6. The combination of claim1 further comprising latch means for retaining said gripping means insaid upper position.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said latchfurther includes means for limiting the downward movement of said icegripping means with respect to said support members at said lowerposition.
 8. The combination of claim 1 further comprising means toadjust the bias on said biasing means.
 9. The combination of claim 7wherein said adjustable crutch includes a handle and said latch meansincludes a U-shaped bar having legs engaging said handle.
 10. Incombination with a crutch, a retractable ice gripper comprising: alongitudinal support means; means slidably retaining said support meanson said crutch for reciprocatory movement along the length of saidcrutch; ice-gripping edges at a bottom end of said support means adaptedto move above and below the bottom end of said crutch; means to biassaid support means downwardly with respect to said crutch; and latchmeans to retain said support means in a position wherein saidice-gripping edges are above the bottom end of said crutch, and to stopthe downward movement of said support means at a position where saidice-gripping edges are a spaced distance below the bottom end of saidcrutch.
 11. The combination of claim 10 further comprising means toadjust said biasing means so that said ice gripper is adjustable forpersons of different weight.
 12. In combination with a crutch, aretractable ice gripper comprising: a longitudinal support means; meansslidably retaining said support means on said crutch for reciprocatorymovement along the length of said crutch; ice-gripping edges at a bottomof said support means adapted to move above and below the bottom end ofsaid crutch; means to bias said support means downwardly with respect tosaid crutch; and means to adjust said biasing means so that said icegripper is adjustable for persons of different weight.